WoolProducers says it's time for AWI to get on with it

WoolProducers Australia is disputing claims of made by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) that the cost of implementing recommendations made in the recent review of performance called by Minister Littleproud, will cost woolgrowers ‘millions of dollars’.

Peak woolgrower representative body is also calling on AWI to get on with implementing the 82 recommendations made.

Whilst acknowledging that there will be a cost in implementing these recommendations, WoolProducers rejects that these will costs will be as substantial as claimed.

WoolProducers Senior Vice President Ed Storey said the reality is the recommendations are aimed at modernising AWI and their operations.

“Any costs associated with implementing these changes are due to AWI Board not ensuring that AWI have kept abreast of good governance practices over the past few years,” Mr Storey said.

WoolProducers are calling for consistency in the implementation of these recommendations – governance issues are the responsibility of the AWI Board and there is no need for these to go to shareholder votes.

“There are a number of recommendations that will require shareholder approval, but also a number that the Board can implement themselves. The report suggests that many recommendations can be made without the need for shareholders to vote,” he said.

“WPA see no reason why those recommendations that the board can implement themselves aren’t done immediately to make AWI the most effective and efficient organisation for woolgrowers.”

Although there is ambiguity around how some recommendations are implemented, AWI have indicated that they have sought legal advice on how best to implement these.

As this legal advice has been funded by woolgrowers, WoolProducers are calling for this advice to be made public.

AWI has also claimed that the recommendations regarding the Board Nomination Committee and how director elections are conducted will see woolgrowers lose their ability to vote for candidates for Board elections – this is simply false.

“Comparisons with the Meat and Livestock Australia election process are factually incorrect, no where do the recommendations suggest that the number of candidates running for board elections will be stifled,” Mr Storey said.

“Nominees will need to possess certain skills in line with a skills-based Board, which is a requirement under the Statutory Funding Agreement.

“This does not mean that candidates will not possess knowledge of the wool industry; rather they will be able to use these skills in addition to their industry knowledge to add further value to AWI.”